Items related to Word Freak: Heartbreak, Triumph, Genius, and Obsession...
Word Freak: Heartbreak, Triumph, Genius, and Obsession in the World of Competitive Scrabble Players - Softcover
Scrabble may be truly called America's game. But for every group of "living-room players" there is someone who is "at one with the board." In Word Freak, Stefan Fatsis introduces readers to those few, exploring the underground world of colorful characters for which the Scrabble game is life-playing competitively in tournaments across the country. It is also the story of how the Scrabble game was invented by an unemployed architect during the Great Depression and how it has grown into the hugely successful, challenging, and beloved game it is today. Along the way, Fatsis chronicles his own obsession with the game and his development as a player from novice to expert. More than a book about hardcore Scrabble players, Word Freak is also an examination of notions of brilliance, memory, language, competition, and the mind that celebrates the uncanny creative powers in us all.
A Book Sense 76 pick.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Review:
Like a cross between a linguistic spy and a lexicographic Olympic athlete, journalist Stefan Fatsis gave himself a year to penetrate the highest echelons of international Scrabble competition. Word Freak is the account of his journey. It's a wacky grab bag of travelogue, history, party journal, and psychological study of the misfits and goofballs whose lives are measured out in Scrabble tiles.
From the Back Cover:
Fatsis gives us all the facts about Scrabble--from the story of the down-on-his-luck architect who invented the game in the 1930s to the intricacies of individual international competitions and the corporate wars to control the world's favorite word game. He keeps the reader turning the pages as we get involved in the lives of the Scrabble obsessives: men and women who have a point to prove against the world and have chosen Scrabble as their playground and their pulpit. As Fatsis goes on his own quest to attain the coveted 1600 rating, we actually get obsessed with him as he lies awake at night pondering moves and memorizing lists of words. For anybody who is interested in words, Word Freak provides an entertaining and absorbing read. --Dwight Longenecker, Amazon.co.uk
"Drama, strategy, controversy, pathos. The rich panorama of emotion. Synchronized swimming? No. Scrabble. Who knew?" --Bob Costas, NBC Sports broadcaster and author of FAIR BALL
"An engrossing, inside look at the strange and rarefied world of competitive Scrabble. It's a pleasure to experience vicariously a level of play that I'll never achieve!" --Will Shortz, New York Times Crossword Editor and Puzzle Master of NPR's "Weekend Edition Sunday"
"As they say in the Scrabble world, Fatsis got great tiles when he set out to write this book -- a slew of memorable characters, and a competitive subculture as bizarre as any I've ever seen in sport. I really enjoyed WORD FREAK." --Frank DeFord
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherPenguin Books
- Publication date2002
- ISBN 10 0142002267
- ISBN 13 9780142002261
- BindingPaperback
- Number of pages416
- Rating
Buy New
Learn more about this copy
US$ 13.57
Shipping:
FREE
Within U.S.A.
Other Popular Editions of the Same Title
Top Search Results from the AbeBooks Marketplace
Stock Image
Word Freak: Heartbreak, Triumph, Genius, and Obsession in the World of Competitive ScrabblePlayers
Published by
Penguin Books
(2002)
ISBN 10: 0142002267
ISBN 13: 9780142002261
New
Paperback
Quantity: 1
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Paperback. Condition: New. Seller Inventory # DADAX0142002267
Buy New
US$ 13.57
Convert currency
Seller Image
Word Freak: Heartbreak, Triumph, Genius, and Obsession in the World of Competitive Scrabble Players by Fatsis, Stefan [Paperback ]
Published by
Penguin Books
(2002)
ISBN 10: 0142002267
ISBN 13: 9780142002261
New
Soft Cover
Quantity: 1
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Soft Cover. Condition: new. Seller Inventory # 9780142002261
Buy New
US$ 14.98
Convert currency
Seller Image
Word Freak: Heartbreak, Triumph, Genius, and Obsession in the World of Competitive Scrabblep Layers (Paperback or Softback)
Published by
Penguin Books 7/30/2002
(2002)
ISBN 10: 0142002267
ISBN 13: 9780142002261
New
Paperback or Softback
Quantity: 2
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Paperback or Softback. Condition: New. Word Freak: Heartbreak, Triumph, Genius, and Obsession in the World of Competitive Scrabblep Layers 0.82. Book. Seller Inventory # BBS-9780142002261
Buy New
US$ 15.43
Convert currency
Stock Image
Word Freak: Heartbreak, Triumph, Genius, and Obsession in the World of Competitive Scrabble Players [Paperback] Fatsis, Stefan
Published by
Penguin Books
(2002)
ISBN 10: 0142002267
ISBN 13: 9780142002261
New
Softcover
Quantity: 6
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Condition: New. Brand New! Not Overstocks or Low Quality Book Club Editions! Direct From the Publisher! We're not a giant, faceless warehouse organization! We're a small town bookstore that loves books and loves it's customers! Buy from Lakeside Books!. Seller Inventory # OTF-S-9780142002261
Buy New
US$ 11.59
Convert currency
Stock Image
Word Freak: Heartbreak, Triumph, Genius, and Obsession in the World of Competitive Scrabble Players
Published by
Penguin Books
(2002)
ISBN 10: 0142002267
ISBN 13: 9780142002261
New
Paperback
Quantity: 8
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Paperback. Condition: New. Brand New!. Seller Inventory # 0142002267
Buy New
US$ 17.85
Convert currency
Seller Image
Word Freak : Heartbreak, Triumph, Genius, and Obsession in the World of Competitive Scrabble Players
Published by
Penguin Books
(2002)
ISBN 10: 0142002267
ISBN 13: 9780142002261
New
Softcover
Quantity: 5
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Condition: New. Seller Inventory # 638264-n
Buy New
US$ 15.55
Convert currency
Stock Image
Word Freak: Heartbreak, Triumph, Genius, and Obsession in the World of Competitive Scrabble Players
Published by
Penguin Books
(2002)
ISBN 10: 0142002267
ISBN 13: 9780142002261
New
Softcover
Quantity: 11
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Condition: New. Seller Inventory # I-9780142002261
Buy New
US$ 19.00
Convert currency
Seller Image
Word Freak: Heartbreak, Triumph, Genius, and Obsession in the World of Competitive Scrabblep Layers (Paperback)
Published by
Penguin Books
(2002)
ISBN 10: 0142002267
ISBN 13: 9780142002261
New
Paperback
Quantity: 1
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Paperback. Condition: new. Paperback. Scrabble may be truly called America's game. But for every group of "living-room players" there is someone who is "at one with the board." In Word Freak, Stefan Fatsis introduces readers to those few, exploring the underground world of colorful characters for which the Scrabble game is life-playing competitively in tournaments across the country. It is also the story of how the Scrabble game was invented by an unemployed architect during the Great Depression and how it has grown into the hugely successful, challenging, and beloved game it is today. Along the way, Fatsis chronicles his own obsession with the game and his development as a player from novice to expert. More than a book about hardcore Scrabble players, Word Freak is also an examination of notions of brilliance, memory, language, competition, and the mind that celebrates the uncanny creative powers in us all. A Book Sense 76 pick. Fatsis introduces readers to the underground world of colorful characters for which the Scrabble game is life—playing competitively in tournaments across the country. It is also the story of how Scrabble was invented by an architect during the Great Depression and how it has grown into the hugely successful game it is today. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability. Seller Inventory # 9780142002261
Buy New
US$ 19.99
Convert currency
Stock Image
Word Freak
Published by
Penguin Publishing Group 2002-07-30, New York
(2002)
ISBN 10: 0142002267
ISBN 13: 9780142002261
New
paperback
Quantity: 1
Seller:
Rating
Book Description paperback. Condition: New. Language: ENG. Seller Inventory # 9780142002261
Buy New
US$ 18.05
Convert currency
Stock Image
Word Freak: Heartbreak, Triumph, Genius, and Obsession in the World of Competitive Scrabble Players
Published by
Penguin Books
(2002)
ISBN 10: 0142002267
ISBN 13: 9780142002261
New
Paperback
Quantity: 1
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Paperback. Condition: new. New. Fast Shipping and good customer service. Seller Inventory # Holz_New_0142002267
Buy New
US$ 19.99
Convert currency